Chapter 5 - Restaurants Built to Die
The scheme was elegant.
Mercer Hospitality purchased distressed restaurant properties.
Then leased them to independent operators.
Some succeeded.
Most struggled.
That was normal.
Except Luke discovered several tenants had been deliberately sabotaged.
Supply contracts suddenly became more expensive.
Liquor licenses delayed.
Insurance premiums spiked.
HVAC repairs ignored.
Health inspections appeared at suspicious times.
Restaurants collapsed.
Mercer Hospitality reclaimed the property.
Then sold it at a large profit for redevelopment.
Grant stared at the documents.
“This is not company policy.”
Derek replied:
“Maybe not officially.”
“Who authorized it?”
“That’s what Luke was trying to prove.”
Thomas said nothing.
Grant looked at him.
“How long have you known?”
“Enough.”
“Answer me.”
“Two years.”
Grant became furious.
“You thought my company was destroying businesses and said nothing?”
Thomas’s face hardened.
“I said something.”
“To who?”
“Luke.”
Why not Grant?
Thomas laughed.
“Because everyone told me Grant Mercer never heard bad news unless it made him richer.”
That landed.
Grant hated that it landed.
Then Caroline found another connection.
Every sabotaged restaurant had one common insurance broker.
Sloan Risk Partners.
Victor Sloan’s family firm.
Victor wasn't merely Mercer CFO.
His brother controlled the insurance brokerage.
Conflict hidden through subsidiaries.
Grant felt sick.
His mentor.
His father’s friend.
Then:
“Why kill me?”
Derek shook his head.
“Maybe you weren't the target.”
Everyone turned.
Grant’s dish had been placed at seat four.
But reservation records originally placed Caroline there.
She switched seats after arriving because cold air hit from the vent.
The poison may have been intended for her.
Caroline went pale.
Grant stared at Thomas.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Then Molly whispered:
“I did.”
All eyes turned.
“How?”
“Someone called before dinner.”
A man.
Blocked number.
He asked whether Mrs. Mercer was sitting at seat four.
Molly thought it was security.
She confirmed.
Ten minutes later, Grant arrived and switched chairs with Caroline because he wanted a clearer view of the room.
The poisoner may not have known.
So who was the target?
Caroline.
Why?
She was investigating Grant’s finances.
Perhaps she found something.
Caroline admitted she had.
A trust account.
$11.4 million.
Money flowing from Mercer redevelopment projects into a shell company called Red Fern Holdings.
Owner hidden.
Then Thomas quietly said:
“I know Red Fern.”
Grant looked at him.
“How?”
Thomas walked into his office.
Returned with an old envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Luke Mercer.
Thomas.
And Victor Sloan.
Taken six days before Luke died.
On the back, Luke had written:
If Victor finds out Thomas has the ledger, we’re both dead.
Grant looked at Thomas.
“Ledger?”
May you like
Thomas smiled.
“That’s why your plate was poisoned.”
